MEA Dumps Plan to Issue Orange Jacket Passport - The India Saga

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MEA Dumps Plan to Issue Orange Jacket Passport

NEW DELHI: In a U-turn, External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday shelved its decision to issue a passport with orange colour jacket to…

MEA Dumps Plan to Issue Orange Jacket Passport

NEW DELHI: In a U-turn, External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday shelved its decision to issue a passport with orange colour jacket to passport holders with Emigration Check Required (ECR) status and to do away with the printing of the last page of the passport booklet containing address. 

ÂThe MEA has received several individual and collective representations requesting to reconsider these two decisions,” an official press release said. 

At a meeting, presided over by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and attended by Minister of State Gen. (Retd) V K Singh on Monday, the decision on both these issues was reviewed. After discussions with various stakeholders, “the MEA has decided to continue with the current practice of printing of the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR passport holders.” 

The Modi government has come under criticism by opposition parties on its decision of issuing a separate orange colour jacket passport with ECR status. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had attacked the BJP, saying it showed a “discriminatory mindset” of the ruling party towards migrant workers.

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